GIUFFRE Jimmy 1947-1953 Part 1

I already posted 4 Jimmy Giuffre's albums, but it is maybe better to start with the beginning...

Here is, in 3 parts, a compilation of the first small groups recordings in which Giuffre participated between 1947 and 1953. It is something akin to a review of the first chapters of the history of West Coast Jazz. What is more, all the tracks were recorded in studios in Los Angeles. In amongst the material, certain rarities and curiosities stand out as, for example, the presence of three singers in some tracks of this first part.
Jesse Price for instance, who was the leader on tracks 2 & 3; Shelly Manne, vocalist on track 11, with not much to say about him except to confirm that he was a consumate master... at the drums!!!; then an unknown singer on track 21, who shouldn't have stayed unknown considering the excellent way he sings Oh Happy Day, accompanied by Giuffre.
A final item to bear in mind about the sessions of the first part, which mark the beginning of Giuffre's career, is the quality of the saxophonists who crop in the recordings: Dexter Gordon -with whom he does a stupendous duo in I'll Follow You, to Art Pepper and Gerry Mulligan. A legacy of the "brothers" spirit.

JIMMY GIUFFRE PART 1

Personnel and tracks in the file.

To be continued...

No comments: